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The Australian Greens today expressed grave concern over the decision of the US, UK and French Governments to launch strikes against targets in Syria. Greens Leader Senator Richard Di Natale reiterated the Greens' call for the Australian Government to rethink the US alliance.

“The violence and suffering in Syria is appalling, and the use of chemical weapons is an abomination," Senator Di Natale said.

"But we don’t need a barrage of missiles. This action risks dangerous escalation in a very complex and volatile war.

Australian Greens Leader Richard Di Natale is calling on the Australian government to initiate an emergency intake of 20,000 refugees fleeing sectarian violence in Syria's ongoing civil war, where over 250,000 men, women and children have already died.

"Four million people are fleeing war in Syria. Two million of those are children. To welcome 20,000 of them into our community would be such an honourable and dignified response from Australia," Senator Di Natale said.

Greens Leader Richard Di Natale says it shouldn't be up to Tony Abbott or the United States to decide if Australia will join air strikes in Syria.

"Australia needs to have its own independent foreign policy, and the Parliament should decide whether or not we send Australians into harm's way," Senator Di Natale said.

"Ultimately it doesn't matter if the request to bomb Syria came from Mr Abbott or the US - the only way to be sure that political self-interest doesn't determine whether our troops are put in danger is for the Parliament to decide.

The Australian Greens accept the advice of ASIO on threats to Australia but say we cannot ignore the impact of military engagement in Iraq and the Middle East in increasing the risk at home. Back in 2004, Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty said Australia was at increased risk because of our involvement in the Iraq war, and Greens Leader Christine Milne says the same applies now.

"We cannot bring Australians together and combat extremism at home by blindly following the USA into yet another Iraq war," said Senator Milne.